Roller-shelving



(NoModeL) H. N. BOOZ.

30mm SHELVING.

Patented Feb. 4, 1896.

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UNITED STATES HENRY N. BOOZ, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROLLER-SHELVING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,213, dated February4, 1896.

Application filed May 3, 1894:- Serial No- 509,9'71. (No model.)

To a, whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY N. 13002, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRoller Shelves and Frames, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to book shelves and cases and more especially tothat class of shelves in which there are roller-bearings for the books;and my invention consists in constructing the shelf to secure anextended front support for the book while permitting it to be readilygrasped by both hands, and in otherwise constructing it to regulate theposition of the book thereon, and to facilitate its adjustment withinthe case, and in constructing the shelf and case to permit two shelvesto be secured with facility in line with each other upon opposite sidesof the same partition, all as fully set forth hereinafter and asillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a planview of my improved shelf, illustrating the same applied between the pantitions of the case. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2. Fig. 3 is aplan showing another form in which my improvement may be embodied. Fig.4c is a side elevation of one of the partitions of the case.

The frame A of the shelf may be of any suitable construction to supportthe bearings of any desired number and arrangement of rollers B, whichconstitute the roller-supports for the book which lies flat upon saidsupports, as in other shelves of this character. Heretofore in thisclass of shelves it has been customary to so construct the frame as toleave a space between the forward rollers in order that the center ofthe book may be grasped by the hand to remove or replace the bookwithout bringing the fingers in contact with the frame or rollers. Thishas proved to be extremely efficient, but in connection with very largebooks, such as are used by architects and engineers and inprothonotaries offices, the central grasp of the books does not in someinstances afford a sufficient hold upon the same. To overcome thisobjection the front roller-support, which may be a single roller or twoor more rollers in line, is arranged centrally of the frame and beyondthe main body of the latter so as to leave two handholes or recessesadjacent to the ends of the front roller, so that the book may begrasped to remove or replace it by applying the hands to the same nearthe opposite ends instead of at the center, as heretofore.

In the construction shown in Fig. 1 the single roller B is in front ofthe front bar 1 of the frame with its bearings in two ears or lugs 2 2,and the front portion of the frame is bent back or retracted orotherwise formed to leave the desired spaces or hand-holes opposite theends of the central roller-bearing.

In Fig. 3 the front roller-support is in two sections B 13 arranged infront of the front bar 1.

In this class of shelves, whatever may be the arrangement of the frontroller-support, it has heretofore been common to construct the shelf ofa depth adapted to that of the book; but as books stored in the samecase are frequently of different depths, a bearingbar has sometimes beensecured so as to extend across the width of the frame at such a point asto afford a bearing for the rear edge of the book. I have found thatsuch a bearing-bar may be very much reduced in length and securedadjustably to the frame in such manner as to reduce the expense ofattachment and adjustment. Thus, a short blade 0 has connected to it thebent ends of two stout wires or rods 3 3, each of which has a loop 4 atthe forward end forming a slot adapted to receive the shank of ascrew-bolt 5 extending into one of the bars 6 of the frame. By looseningthe bolts the bearing-bar C may be set to different positions and thenmay be secured by tightening the bolts.

In fitting cases with shelves of this character, it is extremelydesirable to avoid waste of room, and to this end the sides orpartitions D D of the case are set at a distance apart but littleexceeding the length of the book that is to pass between them. As theside bearings of the frame must be against the inner faces of thesesides or partitions, it has heretofore been necessary to wholly removethe fastening devices in order to adjust the frames from one level toanother. In order to obviate this objection I so construct the frame ofthe shelf that the bearing-points 8 S will project beyond the outer sideportions of the frame to permit the heads 9 of the threaded bolts 10 tobe drawn back of these bearing-points 8 When the shelf is introducedbetween the sides or partitions of the case, thus permitting the shelfto bear against the opposite faees of the sides or partitions, and to beadjusted to its desired position, after which the bolts 10 may be thrustoutward to engage with the bearings in the sides or partitions, whichbearings may be of any suitable character.

In the construction shown in Fig. 1 there are four bearings 8 at eachside of the frame, and the side of the frame between each two bearingsis curved back, as shown. In the construction shown in Fig. 3 there arebut two side bearings 8 projecting beyond the other portions of the sidepieces of the frame, but in either case the head of the bolt may bedrawn back of the bearings.

In order that shelves may be arranged in line with each other onopposite sides of the same partition, I form in each partition twoparallel series of openings o o, each opening enlarged at the upper endand contracted at the lower to permit the head of the bolt to passthrough the upper enlarged end and then the shank to take its bearing inthe lower contracted end, and I arrange the bolts at one side of theshelf, so that they will pass respectively through the openings of oneof the series. I also form two other parallel series of like openings 20w as close aspossible to the openings 1) o, and I arrange the bolts atthe opposite side of the shelf in such position as to pass through theopenings w. \Vhen therefore there are two shelves on opposite sides of apartition D, as shown in Fig. 1, the bolts of one shelf may pass throughthe openings 1; and the bolts of the other shelf through the openings towithout interference with each other, and with the two frames on thesame plane.

I do not claim in a bookcase the combination, with suitable side pieces,of the adj ustable stop-plate having forwardly-ending arms mounted insaid frames and arranged so that their heads will fit into said set-backportions, the-securing devices at one side of the frame being forward ofthose at the opposite side, substantially asdescribed.

3. The combination with partitions having rows of keyhole-slots, ofroller-frames provided with securingdevices at opposite sides havingsetback portions, headed bolts mounted in said frames, those at one sidebeing forward of those at the opposite side, and clamping-nuts for thebolts, whereby the frames and partitions may be secured in place,substantially as described.

4. The combination of a case having partitions each with four series ofopenings arranged upon vertical parallel lines and shelves havingsecuring devices at opposite sides adapted to'said openings, those atone side arranged to engage two of the series of openin gs and those atthe other to engage the other two series, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY N. BOOZ.

Vitnesses:

ALLE N. DOBSON, GEORGIA P. KRAMER.

